Members only
Unlock the Plant Library
Care guides for 220+ plants: light, water, soil, pets, seasonal calendars and troubleshooting. Enter the password from your welcome email to get in.
Plant Profiles / Lady palm
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Lady palm
Rhapis excelsa · Broadleaf lady palm
An elegant clumping palm with fan-shaped leaves on slender canes. One of the best palms for lower light.
Low to bright indirectLight
WeeklyWater
EasyCare level
Care at a glance
Light
Low to bright indirect
ShadeFull sun
Shade.
Water
Weekly
DryWet
Lightly moist.
Humidity
Average
LowHigh
Adaptable.
Temperature
5–32°C (41–90°F)
CoolWarm
Light frost.
Growth
Slow, clumping
SlowFast
1.5–3 m.
Soil
Free-draining
LeanRich
Potting mix.
Fertiliser
Every 2 months
RarelyOften
Palm fertiliser.
Pet safety
Non-toxic
SafeToxic
Safe.
About this plant
Native to southern China. Slow and tough, it's been grown in pots in Japan for centuries.
Best spots
Living rooms, offices, entries and shaded balconies.
Plant facts
| Botanical name | Rhapis excelsa |
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Origin | Southern China |
| Plant type | Clumping palm |
| Mature size | 1.5–3 m |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Foliage | Fan leaves |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
| Propagation | Division |
Seasonal care calendar
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Active growth
Divide
Active growthDivide
Based on Southern Hemisphere seasons.
Troubleshooting
| Brown tips | Salts. |
| Yellow | Sun. |
| Scale | Oil. |
| Slow | Normal. |
| Rot | Wet. |
Common questions
Low light?
Yes.
Pet safe?
Yes.
Divide?
Yes.
Fast?
No.
